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July 2011

Contents

• Qualitative descriptions used in achievement standards
• Update on standards alignment for NCEA level 2
• Finding assessment-related material on the web

Qualitative descriptions used in achievement standards 

The following definitions (the common understanding used by Learning Media Limited) may be useful:

To describe means to give an account of something, to say what it looks like or what it does, to give details about these things. The features or characteristics of something are part of a description, and a definition often includes a description.  A description answers the questions "what is it like?" and "what does it do?"

To explain means to give a reason or reasons – an explanation answers the question "why?" or "how does that work?" If the text includes "because" or "so that", it will be to explain something.

To discuss means to examine something in detail so as to reach a decision. This usually means that more than one perspective is put forward and actively considered. So as part of discussions we may get "compare and contrast".

The standard itself will often give definitions of other terminology that is included in unpacking the criterion. For example, this includes such things as a need and an opportunity (91044), outcome (91045), conceptual design (91046) or prototype (91047). These words may well be used differently within other communities of practice but it is essential that, for assessing against a particular standard, they are used as expressed in the standard.

Update on Standards Alignment for NCEA level 2 

Level 2 draft standards have now been published on the TKI website and these will be registered by December of this year.

The Ministry of Education has also developed two assessment activities (a task and assessment schedule) for each internally assessed achievement standard at level 2. These are currently being posted alongside the relevant achievement standard on the TKI website. The activities are watermarked as "Drafts for School Planning Purposes Only".

NZQA, along with people from the technology community, are currently developing exemplar material for the level 2 generic standards. In most cases, because of the nature of technology programmes (i.e. assessment is integrated within teaching and learning and generally takes place over a long period of time), this exemplar material will be ‘expected student responses’. Annotated exemplars at level 2 will be available to teachers by the start of December.